Tout Charmant Wins Matriarch in Close Finish

Tout Charmant earned her second career grade I stakes win by beating Tranquility Lake and Happyanunoit to the wire in a thrilling stretch duel in the $500,000 Matriarch Stakes Sunday at Hollywood Park. The Ron McAnally-trained filly, who won the 1999 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) when trained by Bob Baffert, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.06 while racing over firm turf.

Lady At Peace set the early fractions (:23.57 and :47.10) while tracked by Tranquility Lake, as Tout Charmant raced in third. Tranquility Lake moved up to press Lady At Peace on the backstretch and assumed the lead heading into the second turn. Under jockey Chris McCarron, Tout Charmant moved into contention while three wide on the turn as Happyanunoit split horses to gain position heading into the stretch. Tranquility Lake, between the rail-skimming Happyanunoit and Tout Charmant, continued to lead after a mile run in 1:34.22, but could not resist the late surge of Tout Charmant, who won by a head at the wire. Happyanunoit finished third, another 1 1/4 lengths back. New Story was fourth, followed by Polaire, Caffe Latte, Snow Polina, Mauricienne, and Lady At Peace.

Tout Charmant returned $7.40, $3.40 and $2.40. Tranquility Lake paid $4.00 and $3.40. Happyanunoit was worth $3 to show. The $1 exacta paid $13.20.

Since returning from a short freshening in August, Tout Charmant finished second in the Palomar (gr. IIIT) and Ramona (gr. IT) Handicaps -- won by Tranquility Lake and Caffe Latte, respectively -- before winning the WinStar Galaxy (gr. IIIT). In her most recent start, she finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT). Sunday's win is her seventh career win from 22 starts. She earned owner Stonerside Stable $300,000 with the win. Tout Charmant (Slewvescent--Charm a Gendarme, by Batonnier) was bred in Kentucky by the Robert H. Walter Family Trust. (Chart, Equibase)